The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up: Energy Guardian – Edward Felker: “Jewell vows to resist lobbying on fracking regs” The Hill – Ben Geman: “Senior Republican presses Interior for ‘certainty’ on Arctic drilling” Associated Press: “A look at US government's cuts in mineral payments” Associated Press: “Wildlife… Read more »

Today, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (WA -04) spoke at the third Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries Conference coordinated by the Regional Fishery Management Councils and hosted by the Pacific Fishery Management Council. During his remarks, Chairman Hastings discussed the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, President Obama’s National Ocean Policy, and the… Read more »

I want to thank Dr. McIsaac, the Regional Fishery Management Councils – in particular, the Pacific Council - and NOAA for hosting this conference. Pulling together a conference involving this many people who have an interest in fisheries management cannot be an easy task. I would like to welcome all of you here to Washington, D.C. I know this is a commitment of time and energy, but I… Read more »

Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation held an oversight hearing on “Impediments to Public Recreation on Public Lands.” This hearing examined obstacles put in place by the federal government that put more costs and burdens on small businesses and limit public access to public lands. “Increased fees, bureaucracy, restrictions,… Read more »

The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up: Wall Street Journal – Alison Sider: “Coastal Governors Want More Offshore Drilling” Fuel Fix OpEd – Jeff Miller: “Guest Commentary: Deep-water oil and gas essential to global energy future” Associated Press: “Steam proposed to extract central Wyoming oil” The Atlantic – Stephanie… Read more »

Remember this? “We can’t afford a situation where speculators artificially manipulate markets by buying up oil, creating the perception of a shortage, and driving prices higher.” — President Obama, April 17, 2012 According to a recent research study by professors at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, oil speculation has little effect on oil price volatility. This study said… Read more »

Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources launched a profile on Instagram. It will feature behind-the-scenes photos of Committee events and hearings, as well as pictures of national parks, forests, American energy, rivers and lakes, fish and wildlife and many other topics under the Committee’s jurisdiction. To follow us online http://www.instagram.com/natresources or via the… Read more »

"Another contrast is that most Texas oil is on private lands, which owners are willing to lease at a price. In California much of the oil-rich areas are state or federally owned, and leasing doesn't happen because of political constraints. In California it can take weeks or even months to get approval for an oil rig. The average in Texas? Four days." Editorial: A Tale of Two Oil… Read more »

The Natural Resources Morning News Round-up: Politico – Jake Sherman: “Democrats Peter DeFazio, Raul Grijalva vie for Ed Markey’s Natural Resources Committee post” Fuel Fix – Jennifer A. Dlouhy: “New Interior secretary makes first offshore rig visit” The Hill – Zack Colman: “House to vote on Keystone XL bill in May” Associated… Read more »

Today’s report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed that U.S. energy production is a job creator.  Employment in oil and natural gas production rose 4.3% in the last year. This can largely be attributed to new energy production on state and private lands, which are significantly out producing federally permitted lands, as noted by the Congressional Research… Read more »